Hello Friends,
Are you still living a life of quiet desperation seeking after money and dreams that won't come true?
Would you like to learn of a better way? You'll still work, but not for the food that spoils, but for that which is eternal, that which will not perish.
Our Father is calling you to a more abundant life of joy and peace where He provides for your every need.
The people of the world believe they must sell their labor to buy food and clothing. And they waste most of their daylight hours chasing after money for these essentials. They assume that if they don't work for money to buy these things, they won't have them. Citizens of Heaven know that the King himself feeds His children the way He feeds the birds. That frees us to work in His Kingdom. Having food and clothing, let us be content.
Once we have food and clothing, the way is clear to work for God without anxiety. "So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Matthew 6:31-32
For Joe and myself, we have found ways that God provides food without money.
INTRO
If we obey Jesus and sell what we have and start over, He is faithful to take care of us as we focus on ministering to those who are suffering.
When we were in the secular world, our mindset was that we needed to labor for a certain number of hours in order to obtain money for life's essentials. Not so in the Kingdom. Here, there is a spiritual network, unseen by the world, that is attuned to God's endless bounty. Our needs are supplied without making money our focus. Many times through the years, we have had a need and one of God's people supplies it, without our even expressing that need to anyone but God. Sometimes the item itself is supplied, other times funds are provided to make the purchase.
Our Cars and Motorhomes Were Donated
One day a man called us and said he had four cars he wanted to donate to the ministry. "Just come and pick them up." Similarly, we've had motorhomes, nice ones, too, and buses and vans donated by people who say, "God told us to give this to you."
When we were ejected off the Church property years ago, these donated motorhomes and buses were a godsend. Suddenly we became homeless and these RV's became our full-time dwellings and offices.
He supplies all our needs, according to the riches of His mercy. How were we to know how important these RV's would be? God knew we would need them - even before we did. It's all part of God's Kingdom, a commerce of love. It works for those who truly put their hope and trust in Him.
He supplies our needs so we don't have to worry about obtaining them. That leaves us free to focus on our calling to preach the gospel, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and heal the sick, as in Matthew 25.
The Greater the Need, the Greater the Supply
When we were holding Church retreats in the woods, we invited Kingdom seekers from around the country to come and camp with us. We averaged about 50 campers per retreat. No fees were charged. No one was asked to bring food. How did we feed them all? We didn't worry about it. We let God supply the food. I tried to worry, but Joe wouldn't let me. "It will all be taken care of, just watch and see," he said.
One year someone came from Arizona bringing a whole truckload of organic produce. Another year a local farmer heard about our retreat and donated tomatoes, lettuce, zucchini and corn. On the days of the retreat, our daughters would wake up early each morning to grind flour from the wheat berries that were donated, and make homemade sourdough bread. Sometimes funds came in the mail to buy basic foods in bulk. And when it was time for the retreat, we always had plenty of fresh, seasonal food, just when we needed it.
Does Living by Faith Ever Fail?
Does this life of faith ever fail? Yes it can, when someone thinks they can just believe and God will provide. But they must also act. This life of faith is a covenant with God. Our part is to go about doing good as He directs. His part - take care of our needs.
Fashionable Clothing Donated
For years, we paid little attention to our clothes. But when our daughters grew into young adults, they became more clothes conscious. Mom's hand-me-down blouses were dowdy and unbecoming.
It seems our heavenly Father is sensitive to those special needs of a young woman beginning to bloom. One day our friend Dan drove up with a packed carload of beautiful clothes from a boutique that had just gone out of business.
Our daughters were delighted to choose fashionable clothes from this huge selection. Another time a friend's daughter headed for college and left her wardrobe behind. All these clothes were also given to our daughters.
Alternative to Thrift Stores
Now our granddaughters are coming of age and we've discovered another source of donated clothing. Here's how it works. Several local moms were frustrated with the high price of used clothes at thrift stores. They decided to bypass Goodwill donations and start their own clothing swap, with no money exchanging hands.
Once they purposed in their heart to do it, resources poured in. A non-profit donated space for the "store." They acquired shelves and circular clothing racks from a local retail store that went out of business. A student artist painted a lovely mural on the wall.
How Does it Work?
Clothing is acquired through donation bins that are set up around town to collect clothes that are no longer needed. Each week volunteers wash and sort the donated clothes, regularly sending some to the homeless.
Two days a week the clothing exchange is open. A large selection of clean, used clothes, sorted by size on racks, is available for the entire family - and all without money. Some limits are imposed to prevent abuse. Using this clothing exchange has been a tremendous blessing to many families, including ours. And no funds are exchanged. If you don't have one locally, you might consider starting one.
This week our local clothing exchange is swamped with literally tons of clothes, shoes, and bedding from a nearby university. Students donate their clothes at the end of the school year, rather than paying to have them shipped home. The clothing exchange applied for and received a portion of these donated items and will make them available without charge in their "store."
Gathering Free Food
As for food supplies, besides growing a garden, free food is available if you look around. We know churches that feed the hungry by collecting food that otherwise would be going to waste. They go around to supermarkets and food manufacturers asking for donations of their food that has expiration or pull dates. Also gathered are bags of fruit and vegetables that might have one spoiled item, but the rest of the bag is fine.
These church-run food pantries offer basic staples like dried beans, rice, pasta, and canned goods, as well as fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables and day-old bread. After acquiring food at a food pantry, it is a fun challenge to go home and make meals from the food we have gathered. By the way, when you visit a food pantry, you don't need to answer all their identifying questions. We provide a first name and how many are in the household - and that's all.
In the summer, local farmers and gardeners provide an extra bounty of delicious local food. After the harvest, farmers sometimes allow gleaners to come in and reap the food that was left behind. We've gathered berries, cherries, apples, pears, green beans, zucchini, tomatoes and corn - free for the picking. It is helpful to know how to can or freeze the extra produce.
How Does it Work?
In our area, there are harvest programs that offer food without charge. After a crop is picked for commercial purposes, local farmers open up their fields, orchards and vineyards to gleaners who pick what is left behind. Volunteers sign up online to harvest what remains and agree that half of what they pick goes to local food share programs (like church food pantries) and the other half they take home. Again, no money is exchanged. And food that would otherwise be wasted is rescued and given to the hungry. This week they are harvesting cherries. Next week they begin harvesting blueberries.
Children are welcome to come and help with the picking. We make a picnic lunch and consider it a fun outing. The younger children probably eat more than they harvest, but they learn where their food comes from and create some lasting memories.
When we return home, we freeze or can our bounty. Those who are unable to pick will probably see these donated fruits and vegetables at their local food pantry.
Check for programs like this in your local area.
Don't Fear Living By Faith
So, don't be afraid of the unknown. There's a beautiful world out there that runs on love, not money. Most of our food and clothing is provided without charge by those who work in God's commerce, not for money.
Obey Jesus. Sell what you have. Get out of debt. Soar into the heavenly places. Live as a freeman under the tender care of our loving Father. Let Him guide your way. Give Him the opportunity to supply your every need. He takes care of the birds and you are worth far more than many birds.
There is a life of love, peace and joy, with persecution, that you cannot see until you start shedding your material attachments. (Graphics - unspoken):
For a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses. Luke 12:15
The life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Luke 12:23 (Lily photo with quote)
Wake up and repent. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
